On 12 May, the Prix Versailles unveiled its 2026 list of the world's most beautiful hotels. From Mexico to Croatia, via China and Italy, sixteen exceptional properties have been recognised.
Comfortable, welcoming and practical, hotels are expected to meet a wide range of criteria. Yet not all of them successfully combine aesthetics, sustainability and innovation. It is precisely this pursuit of beauty and boldness that the prestigious Prix Versailles has celebrated since 2015. The award honours the most remarkable achievements in architecture and design. Museums, railway stations, university campuses and restaurants have all been recognised by the competition for their ability to blend heritage with public accessibility. This time, it is the hotel sector that has come under the experts' scrutiny.
Hotels that are as beautiful as they are innovative
Of the sixteen hotels recognised in 2026, seven are located in Europe. Among them are a Neo-Renaissance building in Prague, a villa in Dubrovnik, and the Orient Express La Minerva in Rome. France is also well represented, with two properties receiving awards: La Fondation in Paris and Les Roches in Le Lavandou.
Nine non-European hotels complete the list. Among them is the Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, a castle around 350 years old perched atop a hill in India's Panna National Park. Other architectural gems featured in the ranking include the Kasbah d'If, located 30 kilometres from Marrakech; Naboa, an exceptional retreat in Tulum; and Desert Rock Resort, which blends seamlessly into the tectonic landscape of Saudi Arabia.
These establishments are so carefully designed that they verge on being monuments in their own right. However, beauty is not the sole criterion considered by the Prix Versailles. According to Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, these hotels 'offer an inspiring vision of excellence in both interior and exterior design, promoting a virtuous form of hospitality that enhances the built environment while fulfilling travellers' aspirations.'
The 16 most beautiful hotels in the world
Here is the complete selection of the world's most beautiful hotels for 2026 according to the Prix Versailles:
- The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake, Yanyuan, China
- The Silk Lakehouse Shangri-La Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
- Sir Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat, Übersee, Germany
- La Fondation, Paris, France
- Les Roches, Le Lavandou, France
- The Telegraph Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Villa Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho, India
- Orient Express La Minerva, Rome, Italy
- Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, Italy
- Kasbah d'If, Marrakech, Morocco
- Naboa, Tulum, Mexico
- Soori Penang, George Town, Malaysia
- Desert Rock, Ḩanak, Saudi Arabia
- Maison Mystique, Khao Yai, Thailand
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